Torpedo and mine defense for vessels.



' Patented Ap?. 1,19%),

3 hiETS--YHEETl H. S SHERMJSKY ofn AND mmf DEFENSE FOR vEssi-ILS.

APPLlcMloN mio sm. s. 19u.

W ma@ H. s. SHERANSKY. IORPEDO AND MiNE DEFENSE FOR VESSELS.

` APLICATIO FlLED Sii-PLS, l. 1,299,243

Patented Apr. L 10H).

3 SHEETS-SHEE 2.

ATTURNE YS ran srn'rns .PATN

y lHAIRRSZ 4S..SHERANSKY, 0F ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY..

To all 10i/tom t may concern Be it known that I, HARRY S. SHERANSKY, a citizen of Russia, residing in'Atlantic City, county of Atlantic, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Torpedo and Mine Defense-for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.A

My present invention rela-testo a novel construction and Varrangement of a torpedo and mine defense for vessels, whereinv the vessel is protected from injury when pass ing through a mine field Vandis also protected from ,injury from torpedoes.

My .invention consists, in its broad and generic scope, of a novel construction and arrangement of floataiblel nets, certain of which are adjustable with respect to the sides of the vessel, provision being made for raising them when the vessel is not in danger s0 that the speed `of theivessel will not be materially retarded. f i

Itfurthe'r consists of anovel construction of the character stated,L wherein the protect ving devices are made in sections so that f when the ship approaches its harbor or 1s free from danger, the` vdefensive apparatus can be disconnected so that it will not interferewith the docking of the vessel.

It'furtherv consists of a novel apparatus of the character stated which vis made in detachable sections, which areprovided with propelling mechanisms which can bel operated by. a hydro-plane or aeroplane carried by the'. defensive apparatus, 'it being vunderstood thatindependent engines can be employed for this purpose, if desired, so that the defensive apparatus can bedsconnected from the vessel and serve as a landing and discharge platform for aeroplanes.V

It further consists of novel means for adjusting the relative position of the defensive apparatus with respect to the vessel. to be protected. i Y

It further consists `of a novel construction of protecting apparatus for vessels which, if desired, may be utilized as a storage place forv fuel or other material.

Other novel features' of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying ydrawings a typicalV embodiment of it which vis at present preferred by me, since this embodiment will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although itis to be un- Speciicaton of Letters Patent.

TORPEDO AND MINE DEFENSE FOR VESSELS.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application led September 5, 1917. Serial No. 189,745.

derstood that the various instrumentalites of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure l represents a top plan view of a torpedo and mine defense for vessels embodying my invention and illustrated in conjunction with a vessel.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of my device.

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 2, certain ofthe parts being shown in a different relation from that seen in said gure.

Fig. 4 represents a sectionon line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

. stern o-f the boat by means of a fasteningv device 5 and at the front of the boat by means Vof a. fastening device 6. As shown, these fastening devices consist of pins which are adapted to pass through apertures in the ends of the sections. Each section is pro vided with a desired number of brackets 7. through whichare adapted topass bars 8 carried by the vessel,v and a key 9 is employed which passes through the bar 8 and engages the brackets 7 to maintain the defense apparatus in fixed position with respect to the vessel. Each section of such apparatus is constructed in substantially the same manner, except that a right and a left hand section is formed which curve toward each other at their forward ends.

Each section consists of an inner iioat 10 which forms an auxiliary vessel or float extending longitudinally substantially the length of the boat and preferably formed of a metal framework enveloped by a waterproof coating 11 of any desired nature. I

have found in practice that certain grades of wax treated in a special manner give good results but any deslred cementltlous material may be employed, either alone or 1n comblnation with other materials. These Hoats 10 union. Y.

`aresecuredbymeans ofV beams 12 tol longis Y vpreterably sectional and secured -togetherin j cables 41, with any desired Vmechanism for ifi i u winding up andT unwinding saidcablesjgto tudinally extending angle irons 13 which are any desired manner.Y By forming these lon-v gitudlnally extending'angle irons 1n section,

vthe device can be readily adapted to coperate with any desired length of Vessel which is ito be protected. Y Y l 14 designates lazy tongs, the' leversfof which `are pivotall'y connected as at 154 with itsresp'ective angle iron 13. The lazy tongs 14 are. also pivotally connected. with longitudinally extending bars 16' and 17 as at 18 and 19, respectively, .these bars forming the supports Vfor the auxiliary double iioats orl double nets.` zThe bar 16 has connected theretothe vertically extendingffloat support 20 which is provided at its lower end with outwardly extending basefflanges 21, see Fig.f4,

on whichthe inturned anges22 of the open work metal of the float `23 are supported when 'such float isin operative position as p seen inFig'. 4. The body portion-ofthe float 23 is covered with a waterproof coating 24.V

Any desired meansmay be provided for rais-l Ving the iloat 23,.andin order to show aV conventional type, Iliave illustrated a Vcable 25 connected. with the bottom of thefloat and .passing over 'rollers 26,'saidcable being de'- signed to be operated by any .desired means, such as Y for example, an .auxiliary engine', not shownbut present in vessels now in use.

The Vlongitudinally extendingy barA 17 piv- Vvotally connected to the lazy tongs as described; has connected thereto the Yvertical Vsupport 27 corresponding in construction to the support 20 and coperating with an outer auxiliary float 28 constructed and operating in a similar manner to the float 23V and pro- A Vvided lwith a cable 29 which passesV over rollers 30 andis adapted to be operated inv any vdesired manner to effect the raising and loweringrof such auxiliary float28. As' an` additional protection, the ulcrum means 18 and. 19 vare secured. toL brackets 31fto Ywhich Y Y isV connected a lower.. rail 32, said lower rail Q [34V are Vloosely mounted on thebars35. Bv 1 `such construction, the rails -34 and bar 37.

Vbeing*connected'by bars 33 with an upper rail 4, 34. The upper rails 34 have passing 5 transversely.therethroughf'the bars 35 which 'theV rails 34. An intermediate TshapedbarV alsopassthrough the angle irons forming '37 is xed1to the bars 35 and the upper rails formvv -a receiving andv dischargin gV platform .Y Y Vfor hydroplanes aeroplanes, or theiriequiv-P alents.V In order to providefor the'passage Y ofa Vhvdroplane.; for example. on tethereceiving platform, the endsof the rails 32 .have pivotallv connected therewithone end of the4 arms38, said arms being pivotally connectedV to one end of arms 39, the other endsof which are the upper. rail 34.

40 *f designates flexible .links preferably pivotally connected with See Figs;` 2,andY 3.. `lid'rounted in thev housing. V46 is a shaft 48which is interg'eared withthe .bowed and havingjrtlueinei'ls'connectediwith-v Y f li i the .har 37"and Vwith'the armsV or links y38 and 39. Y The bars 35iareiconnectedrbyrmeans Yof..V

eiect theexpansionor collapse of. suchY framework.. 'Any desired mechanism may be employedto el'ectjthe expansion and con#Y traction ofthe lazy .tongs andV in orderV to Villustrate one form of construction forf aclieved tobeunnecessarytoillustratejor de.-V il. scribesuchparts.V The sectionsotthe'pro- I tecting apparatusare capable, as described, x

of being ydetachedfromrlthe Vvesselv andV any 85 desired means 'may be employed Vfor movingV` l themthroughthe water, andl as illustrated, Vthis can be accomplishedby `mea'n'sfof `the liydroplaneamounted onV the landing. and receiving platform. 'This section isi-provided 90V with fa'vpropeller44 mounted fon alshaft45' ,Y carried by laV housing 46, whichis braced .by a' bar V47 on whichl it is laterally adjustable. 'Y

propeller shaft 45. sTheshaft48isrprovided-.Q with aclutchimechanismv49 whereby its/.gear 50 may-betlirown vinto andvout of gearwitli the; gear 51 driven by thehydrcplane, itA being understoodVV that theV hydroplane isA .1.00: l

clamped in positionin any desired manner.V By such construction, the 'sectionsfoi the protected apparatus will be' detached' from.

.the vessel' and'utilized aslan'dingand receiv- Y ing stationsfforthe hydroplanes' and may- '105 also Vbe moved'toany Vdesired location means of a liydroplane.

The floats, Vsuch as 10, 23 Vand 28, may be" V.employed alsoas storage for fuelor other p supplies and are. preierablyfmade in sec- T10"V tions and. in Figs.V 2 and 5,1 have shownv Y one of the floats as forming `a;. storage"tank Y 52 having a controllable closure-.53, jIn the use of my novel torpedoV andmine'protector*V for vessels, the sectionsfare disconnectedat 11.5 Onefendand V'the l.vessel moved thereinto,A

after' which 'the Sections. are ,enema sa f section is Vfixed with respect tothe vess'e1 j The Vintermediate and louterr fioatsf are' nor;

Vmally in raised positionyas seen-in Eig.' 5", .172.03

and Vwhen thev danger zonelis entered, the.

Vlazy tongs are actuated eto position such .Y floats vthe desired distance from the hullfof Y Y the boat. The cables 25" and29 are then actuated tovpermit the intermediate and .auxw V125 l iliafrv floats to sink to the position indicated in Fig-4. "As soon as the danger zone, hasVVV j been passed, the intermedlate and ,outer floats are raised andthe lazy tongs actuated to bring- Such fioats YiIlcloseproximity to @130 y conjunction with any desired length of ves- 4 yactuation of the cables.

the vessel so that the speed of the vessel will not be materially retarded. The intermediate and outer floats may also be adjusted longitudinally of the-vessel by the proper When the vessel passes beyond the danger zone or enters a harbor, the protecting' mechanism may be detached so that there is nothing to interfere with the proper docking of the boat with respect to the wharf.

As the floats are preferably made vof open workmetal to' which is applied a coating of waterproofing of any desired material, each float is the equivalent of a plurality of metal nets, so that if a torpedo should strike the outer float, itwould explode before meeting the intermediate or the inner float, thereby preventinginjury to the hull of the vessel which is to be protected. The floats are preferably made in section so that in case one is injured, it can be readily and quickly repaired;

The bows of the intermediate floats 23 are preferably curved inwardly, as indicated at 54, see F ig. l, and the bows of the outer floats 28 are also curved inwardly and overlap so that a torpedo coming toward the' bow of the boat or amine in the path of the vessel would strike the outer float and thel vessel would be protected from injury.. Any desired mechanism may be employed to guide the floats when they are being selfpropelled, and the bow of the float can have any desired or conventional formation, as the floats form auxiliary vessels, the walls of which are the equivalent of nets.

In accordance with my present invention, I provide a protecting mechanism which does not materially retard the speed of the boat and whichcan be economically and quickly manufactured and which can be readily assembled with respect to the vessel or disconnected therefrom.

It will be understood from the foregoing that my present invention is designed to be employed, not only in times of war but in times of peace; for example, in times of peace, one or more of the floats of a section can be employed to protect the vessel from the likelihood of injury due to collision with other vessels, icebergs, or any other obstacle.

It will furtherbe apparent that since the floats are preferably of sectional construction, they can be readily lengthened or shortened in order to adapt them to be used in sel. By the term vessel I intend to include any floating structure which is to be protected.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful torpedo and mine defense for vessels, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the members spaced from each other and extending longitudinally Vof the vessel and attachable thereto, said floats havinga receiving and launching platform for aeroplanes, propellers carried by said iloatable members and means to operatively connect said propellers with the driving mechanism of said aeroplanes.

The combination with a vessel, of an attachable frame supported by it, said frame being provided with laterally extending collapsible supporting members projecting from the sides of the vessel, a plurality of vertically adjustable floats carried by said members, and means supported on said collapsible members to form a vertically adjustable aerial platform.

3. The combination with a vessel, of an attachable frame supported by it, said frame being provided with laterally extending collapsible supportingmembers projecting from the sides of the vessel, a vertically ad- 'justable aerial platform carried by said members, and means supported on said collapsible members below the deck line to form a plurality of vertically adjustable barriers against torpedoes and mines.

4. The combination with a vessel, of a sectional attachable frame supported from the4 vessel, each of said frame sections being provided with laterally extending collapsible supporting members projecting from the sides of the vessel, means for expanding and collapsing said members, a plurality of floats extending longitudinally with respect to the vessel and carried by said members, means for vertically suspending said floats below the water line of said vessel, and means for raising said floats out of the water, aerial platforms carried by said floats, and means for elevating and collapsing said platform.

5. The combination with a vessel, of a sectional attachableframe supported from it and encompassing said vessel, each of said sections being` provided with collapsible supporting members adapted to be project laterally from the side of the vessel, a plurality of longitudinally extending auxiliary vessels suspended from said members, a longitudinally extending aerial platform supported on said members, means for lowering and raising said auxiliary vessels with re- 7. The combination with a vessel, of ai spect to said members, vmeans for elevating vand collapsing said aerial platform With ref spect to saidoutriggers and means for independently operating said members.

6; The combination With a vessel, of sectional frame supported fromit, each of` saidsections being provided with. collapsible supporting members adapted' to be projected 'laterallyffrom the sides of theV vessel, each means for lowering and raising said oats With respect to' said members, means for ele Vating and collapsing said aerial platform, and means for forming. a drivingv connection between' an Vaeroplane supported on said'V aerial platform and aV propeller carried by saidframek section for they independent 'pro-Y pulsion of each of said frame sections.V

sectional frame supported froniit, each of saidsections being provided with collapsible members adapted to vbe projected vlaterally Y Vwith respect to the sides of the vessel, a plu rality of longitudinally extending floats sus pended from said members and curved inwardly Vat their forward ends, the outer Hoa-ts overlapping each other atV the borv ofv theV Vessel, saidV curved portions being adapt# ed to be brought into longitudinalv alinementV With each' float section, a longitudinallyexf tending aerialv platform supported on said member, means for lowering and raising f members. y

8. .Av sectional Yframe Aadapted to be-sup- Y1 ported from a vesselfeacli section being prog, l vldedfwitli laterally'.expansibleandcollapsible members, means to actuatesaidniembers,

a plurality off'iioat's extending longitudinally of the vessel, 'means for 'vertically suspende ing said floats below the-Water line of saidV vessel, incansfor' raisingzsaid floatsoiit of Y the Water, aerial platforms carried byY said.

ioats and `provided alt their rear .ends with depending guide rails adapted to'form an auxiliary landing platform for'liydroplanes from the surface; of the w ater when the aerial Y Vplatform iscollapsed,andnieans forelevat'-,

ing` and collapsing said platform.; Y

9..y A sectional frame adapted-to be supported from. a vessel, each section beingpro`- S` vl-vided with laterally eXpansibleandcollapsieK; Y V ble.meii`ibers,`means for eXpafnding'and:col-` Y K lapsing said members,-V a Yplurality ofoats v extending longitudinally 0f' Vthe .vessel 1 andVV ce i supported by said members, meansfor-raisingaiid lowering said'flo'ats, aerial platforms on said floatsand consisting of lattice Work adapted to form 'protective' means for theV superstructure ofthe vessel, Aand 'meansv for elevating and'collapsing saidV platforms.

o HARRY S. SHERNSKY WVitnesses; Y' f H. S. FAIRBYANKS,

C.: D. MGVAY.v

Copies of this patent'may heV obtained for five ceiitsreacli", addressing the VCommissioner 'of Ifatents, v Y' Y l Washingtoml). C. 

